Six Nations 2017: The Tournament Starts Here

We look at the key battles in the opening three matches of the 2017 Six Nations.

Scotland vs Ireland at Murrayfield (Saturday, February 4, 10.25pm HKT)

What we can expect
The Six Nations kicks off in Edinburgh with a match that is much harder to call than it has been in recent seasons.

Scotland
Once upon a time, not so very long ago, visitors headed to Murrayfield with great expectations. Not any more. Confidence is high in the Scotland camp after an impressive November international season, while Glasgow Warriors – who have supplied the bulk of the squad – are a force to be reckoned with in Europe and the Pro 12 this season. Coach Vern Cotter has said two wins would constitute ‘a pretty good Six Nations’ for a side that has in recent years found wins hard to come by. He may change his tune if they can open with a win against one of the pre-tournament favourites.

Ireland
Ireland have their eyes on a third Six Nations title in four years following a historic 2016 when they beat the southern hemisphere’s big three for the first time in a calendar year – and only a fool, or an England fan, would bet anything other than small sums of money against them. They boast serious strength in depth, in particular the back row, while the three-quarters are as quick-witted as they are fleet-footed.

All eyes on
Paddy Jackson. The 25-year-old Ulster fly-half steps once more into the breach left by the injured Johnny Sexton, who sits out this match with a niggling calf injury. Jackson has been here before, of course, having very successfully filled in for the influential Leinster man during the summer tour of South Africa. This, however, is the ground, and the match, at which Jackson endured a torrid international debut back in 2013. He will be looking to lay the ghost of that 12-8 defeat to rest.

Key battle: The front row
Scotland’s props – Zander Fagerson and Allan Dell – have seven caps between them, while hooker Fraser Brown has 20. There’s no doubt the Scottish front row has plenty of promise, but they face more experienced members of the 1-2-3 club at the coalface in Tadgh Furlong, Rory Best and Jack McGrath.

Prediction
A tough one, but Ireland have the strength in depth to handle what is sure to be an epic Scottish challenge. Ireland’s Munster-based scrum-half Conor Murray is bound to be a target, having accused the Glasgow contingent of deliberately targeting him during the two Pro 12 club’s Champions Cup pool 1 game. He may as well have painted a big target on his chest. If Scotland can torment the Murray-Jackson axis, things will get a little difficult for the visitors. Ireland by 5.

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England vs France at Twickenham (Sunday, February 5, 12.50am HKT)

What we can expect
It’s Le Crunch. Enough said.

England
After that 2016, many people are asking whether Eddie Jones’s England are capable of improvement, or if they have reached a plateau. A lengthy injury list has not helped the English cause as they chase down New Zealand’s winning-run record. Even some players who are returning – notably James Haskell and Dylan Hartley – have played little rugby this year, so there’s a danger England could be a little undercooked.

France
This is not the France of recent years. This is a reboot. Less bosh and crash, more flair and derring-do. What fans want now are results as well as flair. It’s time for Guy Noves to deliver on his – and his team’s – promise.

All eyes on
The entire French team. Have they really rediscovered that long-forgotten flair?

Key battle: Owen Farrell and Jonathan Joseph v Gaël Fickou and Remi Lamerat
That midfield battle looks very tasty indeed. Farrell and Joseph cannot give either Fickou or Lamerat an inch because they are both capable of stealing a mile. And watch out for those offloads. But, then, Fickou and Lamerat cannot give Farrel or Joseph an inch for much the same reason…

Prediction
For the first time in a decade, France are, genuinely, an unknown quantity. The question this time is not which France team will turn up, but whether they have taken the next step from the promise of the November internationals. Because nobody can still quite believe what they saw back then.

England probably have enough to weather a French February storm – but there could well be a few scares along the way. Don’t expect this game to be a done deal until very close to the final whistle. England by 7.

Italy vs Wales at Stadio Olimpico (Sunday, February 5, 10pm HKT)

What we can expect
If Italy are to spring a shock, this is the match to do it. If they catch Wales cold, it could be a long afternoon at the Olimpico office for the men in red.

Italy
Inconsistency dogs the Azzurri. They almost beat Argentina in June and did beat the Springboks for the first time in November. But those performances sandwiched other less-impressive results, including defeat to Tonga a week after knocking over South Africa. Coach Conor O’Shea’s decision to leave Exeter Chiefs’ Italian centre Michele Campagnaro on the bench has stopped more than a few people in their tracks. And no wonder. He’s impressed in both the Premiership and Champions Cup.

Wales
Three wins from four November internationals seems, on the face of it, a pretty solid return – but there are jitters among the Welsh faithful that something is rotten in the state of Cardiff. Having named seven uncapped players in his extended Six Nations’ squad, acting coach Rob Howley has pretty much stuck with the tried and tested.

All eyes on
Sergio Parisse. Who else could it be? The player who became a leader. The leader who became a legend. Italy are a different, more difficult proposition whenever he is on the field.

Key battle: Sergio Parisse v Ross Moriarty
No Taulupe Faletau for Wales means two ends of the international age range clash at the Stadio Olimpico. Eleven years and 109 caps separate the two nations number eights, but the young Gloucester man has done everything right while covering for Faletau.

Prediction
This could be close – too close for Welsh comfort. Italy have nothing to lose and everything to gain, so there could be trouble ahead for the visitors – especially if they are even just a little tentative. Wales by 6.